NFI Group sees smooth road ahead for its zero-emission buses
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Like every other company, NFI Group had a rough ride in 2020, but unlike many other industries, the road ahead should be much smoother for the local bus manufacturer.
Like every other company, NFI Group had a rough ride in 2020, but unlike many other industries, the road ahead should be much smoother for the local bus manufacturer.
That’s because there is growing evidence that zero-emission bus (ZEB) technology will lead the transportation sector and there is renewed commitment by governments in its key markets to make funds available to replace diesel buses with ZEBs despite the dramatic fall in transit bus ridership in North America during various levels of regional lockdowns.
President-elect Joe Biden said he was “heartened” by the compromise in Congress, noting it was “a first step and down payment on more action that we’ll need to take early in the new year to revive the economy and contain the pandemic.”
Addressing the dire financial needs of transit agencies and helping to keep their systems running is what this round of funding will attempt to do. New York MTA, for instance, will receive $4 billion, allowing it to avert drastic service cuts of up to 50% and layoffs of some 9,400 in 2021. It still faces deficits in subsequent years.
The $25 billion of appropriated CARES Act funds for public transportation can only go so far. As of Dec. 3, 2020, public transit agencies had obligated 94% of those funds through 763 grants totaling nearly $23.5 billion; 59% of these funds had been fully expended, according to the Federal Transit Administration.
Passenger Rail Outlook: Building Back Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
RAILWAY AGE, JANUARY 2021 ISSUE: First, getting through the pandemic then, building a new normal. Amid uncertainty, there is cautious optimism for passenger rail in 2021. That was the general consensus of industry experts Railway Age interviewed in December.
President-elect Joe Biden said he was “heartened” by the compromise in Congress, noting it was “a first step and down payment on more action that we’ll need to take early in the new year to revive the economy and contain the pandemic.”
Addressing the dire financial needs of transit agencies and helping to keep their systems running is what this round of funding will attempt to do. New York MTA, for instance, will receive $4 billion, allowing it to avert drastic service cuts of up to 50% and layoffs of some 9,400 in 2021. It still faces deficits in subsequent years.
mmaroney@sungazette.com
Despite COVID-19’s role as the culprit for dropping ridership by half at River Valley Transit bus service, the city has not had to dip into a $7.2 million Federal Transit Administration relief package yet, city officials said.
“Fortunately, we have not had to use any of the FTA money yet,” Mayor Derek Slaughter said this week when asked about the use and planned use of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act, signed by President Donald Trump on March 27.
The money, officially awarded to the transit agency in June, if needed, will be used to keep the buses running during the length of the pandemic, said Adam Winder, general manager of River Valley Transit.
The 41 railroads subject to the statutory mandate comprising all seven Class I’s, Amtrak, 28 commuter railroads, and five short lines/regionals that host intercity or commuter service plus industry associations, suppliers and other service providers, have worked for more than a decade to reach what FRA called “a landmark achievement” and what FRA Administrator Ronald L. Batory said was an “unprecedented undertaking” for the nearly 100 stakeholders.
FRA has certified that each host railroad’s PTC system complies with the technical requirements. Additionally, interoperability has been achieved between host and tenant railroads operating on PTC-governed main lines.
Most railroads had reached the finish line some months ago. As of the end of third-quarter 2020 (Sept. 30), the railroad industry reached 99.6% of fully implementing PTC. At the end of 2019, PTC was in operation across 98.5% of the required Class I route miles.